The ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education Programme (ASEAN–UK SAGE) Phase 1 ended on 31 March 2026.

The ASEAN–UK SAGE Programme emerged from the UK’s official Dialogue Partner status with ASEAN and was welcomed as the first ASEAN–UK cooperation programme implemented under the PoA at the Second ASEAN–UK Senior Officials Meeting (AUKSOM) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, in June 2023. One month earlier in May 2023, the ASEAN–UK SAGE Programme was officially announced by The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP Minister of State in the UK FCDO at the Education World Forum (EWF) in London.

The ASEAN–UK SAGE Programme (Phase 1) was developed and delivered in alignment with ASEAN and UK priorities in the education sector particularly for women and girls, and supported the integration of ASEAN by narrowing the development gap among the ASEAN Member States. Key references included the:

The Programme also supported action lines under the 2016 ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Education for Out-of- School Children and Youth

Specifically, the ASEAN–UK SAGE Programme (Phase 1) aimed to provide evidence-based technical input that enables key players in the region including the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), and ASEAN Member States (AMSs) to develop effective policies and programmes that improve foundational learning for all and that tackle exclusion and constraints limiting the achievement of girls and marginalised groups. Phase 1 was delivered through the following workstreams:

  • Foundational learning crisis
  • Post pandemic Out-of-school girls and marginalised groups
  • Gender barriers to digital skills and employment

Integration of education technology was a crosscutting theme. Activities delivered under the Programme included demand-led projects; technical assistance; research, evidence and data; and advocacy.

The ASEAN–UK Programme (Phase 1) was implemented by:

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme was co-led by the British Council and SEAMEO.